B. pictus

Boletinus Kalchbr.

Four species are known in Europe. Fruitbody boletoid with partial veil, leaving a fibrillose ring. Cap fibrillose scaly. Stipe hollow or solid. Tubes decurrent (running down the stipe). There is strong molecular evidence that this genus must be integrated in Suillus; here for practical purposes, I would prefer to list it as a genus on it own. Note also that the genus Fuscoboletinus is also kept separately, although it also must be integrated in Suillus.

Distribution. Originally from North America and Asia, in Europe apparently brought through its mycorrhizal host and so far known from single finds in Germany. It might be present elsewhere and should be further looked for.

Notes. Easily distinguished from the other representatives of the genus in Europe due to its mycorrhizal host. Suillus spraguei (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Kuntze is suggested to be the legitimate name for this species, when treated in the genus Suillus (see Palm & Steward 1986).

Photographs

Fruitbodies of Boletinus pictus - a North American collection. (photo D. Bojantchev)